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Opinion: Responsible mining begins before opening and ends long after closure

Brian Battison, vice-president corporate affairs, Taseko Mines.

Photograph by: Handout
, Files

Canada has a global reputation for excellence in responsible mining practices.

Today’s mines are developed with a long-term vision that includes minimal impact during operations and environmental reclamation before returning the land back to nature. Taseko’s Gibraltar Mine is a good example. Gibraltar, the second largest open pit copper mine in Canada, is a state of the art facility that employs a highly skilled workforce of more than 550.

The engineering staff can arguably be described as some of the finest mining experts in the world.

Since restarting the operation in 2004, Taseko has invested more than $700 million to modernize the Gibraltar operation and create greater operational efficiencies — an investment that goes far beyond the requirements of the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative.

The investment provides reassurance the mine will continue to operate during fluctuating markets, but also contributes to the reduction of the mine’s environmental footprint during operations.

For example, a $40-million investment in a new electric-powered in-pit crusher and conveyor system has reduced diesel consumption significantly, lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, a $25-million investment in a direct-feed semi-autogenous grinding mill makes much more efficient use of electrical power, resulting in savings of seven Gwh per year of energy. These are just two examples of the more than 40 new initiatives and policies in place at Gibraltar that substantially reduce the mine’s impact in terms of emissions, fuel consumption, energy and water usage.

Our commitment goes beyond just the operational years of the mine. We are also committed by law to reclaim the mine site area after operations end. At Gibraltar, last year marked the beginning of several large-scale reclamation and research projects that will be carried out throughout the life of the mine. Similarly, a newly initiated land capability study, which goes beyond our general reclamation objectives, will determine ways to improve reclamation planning and implementation.

These expenditures represent an investment in our employees, our suppliers, the communities in which we operate and our province. Since reopening in 2004, Gibraltar’s workforce has grown from 10 to more than 550, with an additional 150 to be added to the payroll in the coming months.

These employees are raising their families, buying homes and spending their money, all of which contributes to the strength and growth of our economy.

In fact, because of our new investment in Gibraltar, provincial real GDP is $163 million higher, consumer spending is $96 million higher and residential investment in the province is $29 million higher. This investment and its beneficial impact on the economy of B.C. has generated an additional $68 million in federal government revenues and $62 million in provincial government revenues.

Mining is ultimately about balance. It is about embracing a social and economic benefit while at the same time undertaking rigorous measures to minimize environmental footprints.

Gibraltar continues to serve as an exemplary benchmark for how mining can introduce much-needed stimulus to the local economy, secure long-term employment opportunities for local tradespeople, and provide minimal environmental impact.

It is this objective that similarly drives our commitment to the New Prosperity gold-copper project, currently in Federal Review Panel process. As we continue to move forward with this project, environmental, social and economic sustainability remain a priority.

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